Form for casting concrete steps



Jan. 9, 1951 E. E. cATo FORM FOR CASTING CONCRETE STEPS Filed May 2, 1949 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 9, 1951 i.

1 Claim. l

This invention relates to construction forms for producing concrete bodies and it has particular reference toa form especially designed to pre-cast steps as a temporary or permanent adjunct to a building,

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive form from which may be produced a stoop consisting of one or more steps, the stoop being substantially a hollow body open on its underside and may be set up without the usual iill which has a tendency to displace the steps away from the original mooring unless secured vto the building. Moreover,`

the void in the underside of the body eliminates weight and contributes to its portability, thus making practicable the manufacture of the steps at one point for conveyance to various points for installation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a concrete form which can be used many times over and consists of side members held in spaced apart relationship by a plurality of riser plates which are disposed from the front to the back edges of the side plates on successivelyv higher planes and whose inner ends are turned rearwardly to lie flush against and be temporarily Vsecured to the confronting faces of the side members. The lowest of the series of risers is also the widest to provide for anchorage and allowing for walk approaches. The form further includes a stepped bottom or center section for supporting the concrete in setting and to define the void under the completed stoop.

Other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a form constructed according to the invention Figure 2 is a front elevational View, and

Figure 3 is a front isometric view, partly broken away, and

Figure 4 is an end elevational View showing the risers and center section in dotted lines.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing; A denotes the center section or stepped concrete support of the form and spaced outwardly from each fall thereof is a riser plate B, the lowest riser plate being designated as C and swicler than the companion plates for they purpose to be presently described. The riser plates B, B and C are supported at their ends by the side membersv D of the form by means of removable fasteners G. It will be observed that the ends of each of the riser plates are curved inwardly after which they are secured, as above Enieillefflcei,IaliSQTx t 'l Application May 2,1949rsexiar'neaons5.-'

Athickness of the concrete forming the uppermost step and, passing longitudinally across the form from one side member D to the other are rods E, one overlying the top treadof the center section A while another is disposed forwardly t of the fall of the bottom tread thereof, to be embedded in the concrete poured onto the center section. The ends of these rods extend through openings in the side members D and constitute handling means for the nished product as well as reinforcing therefor. Further reinforcing in the form of expanded metal lath, rods or the like may obviously be placed over the center section and between the same and the risers B, B and C, if desired, to be embedded lalso in the concrete when poured.

When the form is assembled as shown and described, the concrete is poured onto the center section and spread while vibrating or shaking the form so that the concrete will ilow in uniform density into the spaces between the center section A and the risers B, B and C which risers will determine the tread thickness of the finished steps. After the concrete attains a mechanical set, the form is removed from the completed steps and such nish work as may be necessary is done after which the steps are ready for transportation to the point of installation.

Due to the fact that no ll is required in installing the steps and the further fact that the body is heavier at the rear than at the front, the steps will bear against the foundation structure of the building and will not tend to move away `in the manner of steps supported on fill or which are of solid concrete.. The only foundation for the steps recommended constitutes a concrete footing or pier poured into cavities made in the soil .to support the four corners of the stoop, to prevent possible sinking or settling.

While the specication is more or less specific as to form and relationship of parts,` it is obvious that some modification may be resorted to withoutjdeparting from the intentr of the invention as set forth in the following claim.

What is claimed is:

A form for precasting concrete steps, comprising a pair of spaced apart side members, a continuous center section between and spaced inwardly of said side members having treads v ami-"falls and defining a support for concrete, a.

3 riser plate spaced forwardly of each fall of said center section to predetermineithe thickness of the fall of .the nished concreteA step, the lower edge o'fff'sjaid riser plate being ,spaced upwardly from the 'next subjacent tread 'of the center section tog-avug'e the tread thickness of the nished step, said riser having integral ends curved rearwardly and removably attached to the confrontin'gjj`faces of said side Vfrienlhers, said riser plate further having its upiier ledge extending above the jnext highest tread "of said center sec- 1 tion to predetermine the treacvlv thickness of the finished-'concrete step, thef-lwestof said riser platesfbeing of greater Width than that of the companion plate, and means upstanding at the rear edge of the uppermost tread fof saidcenter 4, section to predetermne the tread thickness of the nished step.

ERNEST EARL CATO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Kogl May 5, 1942 

